0:00:02 > 0:00:03Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06All too often, our wildlife and domestic pets
0:00:06 > 0:00:09are the victims of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Animal 24/7 is with the people trying to save them.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17Coming up...
0:00:17 > 0:00:18DOG WHINES
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Rescue for the puppy with an untreated injury.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23It seems to be in quite a lot of distress.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Broken leg's pretty painful.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27The battle to save a baby porpoise.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Because it's been out of the water, the skin's starting to crack.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33It's just 50-50.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37And the deadly trap that left these chicks orphaned.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42- Wow!- The bird would eventually die from shock or hypothermia.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01Out of all our animals, it's the babies that need the most attention.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04These puppies were brought into the RSPCA
0:01:04 > 0:01:06here in Bradford seriously underfed.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10And they're just a handful of the 3,000 or so animals
0:01:10 > 0:01:13that are brought into this centre every year.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15It's hard to believe that people
0:01:15 > 0:01:20could mistreat or neglect such cute animals, but it does happen.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29In north London, the search is on for a puppy with a broken leg.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34A local vet has called the RSPCA to say his owners have ignored
0:01:34 > 0:01:36appointments to get the fracture treated.
0:01:36 > 0:01:43Imara and Clare have been told the owner keeps the puppy in these flats.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45- From the sides. - Yeah, she came down here.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48That's why I was confused about the layout then.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49This is a serious case.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51The puppy will be in agony.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54There's no time for a soft approach.
0:01:55 > 0:01:56RSPCA!
0:01:56 > 0:01:58The police have been called.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00They can legally break into the flat and seize the dog.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03- Yes, please.- Hello!
0:02:03 > 0:02:06It's the police.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11Because of your dog, we've got a power to force entry if you don't come and open the door.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16There's no response. Time for action.
0:02:23 > 0:02:24Police!
0:02:24 > 0:02:29The team begins to search the flat for the puppy.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32You've got a dog lead on the floor here, puppy lead.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Is that a puppy crate?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Attempt at a puppy crate here, attempt at a puppy crate in there.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39The dogs aren't here.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41The dogs aren't here.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44- Any idea where he lives at all? - No idea.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Imara is now extremely concerned about this little dog's welfare.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50It's in such a horrific condition.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53A dog with a broken femur, I can't imagine how much pain
0:02:53 > 0:02:55it could be going through at the moment,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59and the fact that it must be being walked everywhere and, that way,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02putting more and more pressure on it and causing even more pain to it
0:03:02 > 0:03:08and making it just all the worse, because they can't take it to a vet, and I don't understand quite why.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Imara and Clare are desperate to find the puppy.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15They call the police to see if there's any other information
0:03:15 > 0:03:18that might indicate where it's been taken.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Let me take the address from you.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22OK, what's the address?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26The police tell Imara they've found an address linked to the puppy.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Lovely. OK, I'll see you soon.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33We have got an address for the owner's son now, so we will be going
0:03:33 > 0:03:36straight over to that one and hopefully the dogs will be there.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Imara and Clare head directly to the second address.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44This time, it sounds like they may be in luck.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47DOGS BARK
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Oh, dogs are here!
0:03:50 > 0:03:53- Hey!- And even better news - the puppy is here, too.
0:03:53 > 0:03:59We need to see that puppy, so just bring the puppy out and put the dogs in the back, yeah?
0:03:59 > 0:04:01I know the one you need to look at.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Lovely. It's just that one that we need to look at.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07We'd like you to co-operate, otherwise we have got the power to come in.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10The owner is given no choice but to let the RSPCA in.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Is it going to be all right with me?
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Yes, she's all right. They're all all right, but they jump up.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Oh, are you a jumper?
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Once inside, Imara sees the puppy.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22The search may be over,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25but Imara now has to decide what's best for the dog.
0:04:25 > 0:04:31The puppy was supposed to have gone in for an amputation yesterday at Blue Cross.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35The puppy has seen a vet who recommended the leg was amputated.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37But the owner wanted a second opinion.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42Three days on, and it appears the leg still hasn't been treated.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46For Imara, leaving the puppy to suffer simply isn't acceptable.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48What we're gonna do with the dog,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51I'm going to take it to the RSPCA in Harmsworth.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54We'll leave it there for them to assess it, look at it
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and then you go and pick it up and do it that way.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02After 30 minutes, the owner finally agrees the puppy can be taken.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08Clare's frustrated that the injury has been left and doesn't want to waste any more time.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Hurry up, we need to get that pup to the vet.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14The puppy, nicknamed Sam, is just a few months old.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Can you put him straight in there then.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20It's really sore, isn't it? Look at that silly bandage on you, eh?
0:05:25 > 0:05:30At the RSPCA animal hospital, he's rushed straight through to the examination room.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Sam can't walk and is swaddled in a makeshift bandage.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39His leg has been left untreated for days
0:05:39 > 0:05:42and this could damage his chances of a full recovery.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44He's making quite a lot of noise.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47It seems to be in quite a lot of distress.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Broken leg's pretty painful, so I guess it's pretty bad.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It's a real big sigh of relief to know that it's here and it's
0:05:54 > 0:05:57in some capable hands and someone will be treating it
0:05:57 > 0:06:00and it won't be in the pain that it was in before.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03We want to keep an eye on it for the next 24 hours to see how it's going.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05We'll give it some anti-inflammatories,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07or the vets will, and we'll just keep an eye on it.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10We might be able to operate, but we won't be able to tell until
0:06:10 > 0:06:13the swelling has gone down, we've got some X-rays.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17So it's just watch this space, really, for the next 24/48 hours.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22It's been a busy day for such a tiny puppy and it's not over yet.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27Sam now has to undergo critical examinations to determine how serious the injury is.
0:06:31 > 0:06:32Later...
0:06:32 > 0:06:34It looks like there could easily be a fracture.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Very painful and the bone doesn't feel normal.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Just like humans, baby animals rely on their mothers
0:06:46 > 0:06:49for food, comfort and security.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53So if their parents die or they become separated from them,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55the little ones' lives are often in danger, too.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00Luckily, there are rescuers out there who will try to save them,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03but it's almost always a pretty difficult job.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14Spurn Point - one of the most remote spots in Britain.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Stretching out into the North Sea at the mouth of the Humber Estuary,
0:07:17 > 0:07:22it's been designated a nature reserve and is a haven for wildlife.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29On the beach, an emergency is unfolding.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32A porpoise has beached herself and died,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36leaving her now orphaned calf fighting for its life nearby.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42A team from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue
0:07:42 > 0:07:44is trying to save the baby.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Alan Stewart is looking at the mother
0:07:46 > 0:07:48for clues as to what went wrong.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52There are no visible marks on it at all, which is relatively unusual.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55They normally have some sort of bumps and scrapes.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59The only visible sign is that it is very thin. And as you can see here
0:07:59 > 0:08:06this is where the lumbar muscle is and that's concave, which is a classic sign
0:08:06 > 0:08:08that there is something wrong.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11It won't be till, when or if it goes to post-mortem
0:08:11 > 0:08:15we'll actually find out what the problem's been.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17The team don't know why the adult
0:08:17 > 0:08:23beached itself, but the strong bond between porpoises and their young has left her calf in real trouble.
0:08:23 > 0:08:29Neil Ray is trying to keep the animal alive under the anxious watch of onlookers.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31We believe it's dehydrated.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Very emaciated, he's very thin.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40His eyes are closed, which isn't a good sign, and also he's shivering, so he's hypothermic.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43He's got quite a good breathing pattern at the moment.
0:08:43 > 0:08:49It's just all the other factors that are against it - dehydration, malnutrition, hypothermia.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54We think that mum's come ashore and brought the baby with it and obviously the baby's
0:08:54 > 0:08:58still with mum and not doing very well at all without mum.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02It looks like the porpoises are suffering from malnutrition.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Stocks of their favourite food, sand eel, have plummeted
0:09:06 > 0:09:09in the North Sea, leaving many marine animals vulnerable.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14We believe it's a yearling, probably from June last year.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16If you notice the wrinkling on the skin,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20it's usually a sign of dehydration.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23There's no telling really how long it's been
0:09:23 > 0:09:26without a feed or without water.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29It gets all its liquids from the food that they eat.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Obviously if this one's still weaned with its mum, there's no knowing
0:09:33 > 0:09:36the last time it had something to eat or got some fluid into it.
0:09:36 > 0:09:43There is a slim chance of survival if the porpoise can be refloated.
0:09:43 > 0:09:44A vet's on his way.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47He'll decide whether the calf is strong enough
0:09:47 > 0:09:49to live without his mother.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53But Spurn Point is secluded. He could be hours away.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58With every passing minute, the calf is getting weaker.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01The problem with porpoises, they're very, very skittish.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04We're lucky that this one hasn't gone into shock yet.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07They're normally well into shock by now.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10They go into death-throes, which is like a...
0:10:10 > 0:10:15like a seizure spasm and they just close their blowhole and die.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19With the vet still miles away, the animal's condition suddenly worsens.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24The calf has been out of the water for several hours.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26His skin is beginning to suffer.
0:10:28 > 0:10:35Neil and his team are well trained to deal with this situation, but they must act quickly.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Because it's been out of the water, the skin's starting to crack,
0:10:38 > 0:10:43so what I'm going to try to do is make it as comfortable as we can,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47keep the skin wet and also put some K-Y Jelly round the blowhole.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50It stops the blowhole from cracking.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Obviously the blowhole is where it breathes from,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55so if it gets water in there, then it's in trouble.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57You've got to give it every chance until the vet arrives
0:10:57 > 0:10:59and see what happens when the vet arrives.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09Any hope of saving this porpoise is slipping away with every minute.
0:11:09 > 0:11:10He's now very frail.
0:11:10 > 0:11:15And if the vet says he's too ill to survive on his own in the sea,
0:11:15 > 0:11:17there's little that can be done for him.
0:11:17 > 0:11:23It's very frustrating because, usually with seals, we've rescued so many seals over the years
0:11:23 > 0:11:30and generally, if they're too ill to refloat, we can take them to the sea life centre where there's a hospital
0:11:30 > 0:11:35there and they get antibiotics and get fed, and within six, seven months, they can be refloated.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Obviously there's not really a rescue centre that we know of for porpoises,
0:11:40 > 0:11:44because they're a really skittish animal to try and keep.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50It's just 50-50. Sometimes you're lucky, sometimes you're not.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Neil and his team have done all they can.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00It will now be the vet's decision whether the porpoise can return to the sea.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03But he's still an hour away and, as the team wait,
0:12:03 > 0:12:07this baby porpoise's life hangs in the balance.
0:12:13 > 0:12:14Coming up...
0:12:14 > 0:12:19If it's a question between giving it a chance and euthanizing it,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23I'd prefer to give it a chance, but I do think the chances are poor of its surviving.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Many of the kittens here are orphans being raised by staff
0:12:32 > 0:12:36at this centre, and their commitment is typical of rescuers
0:12:36 > 0:12:40who often go to great lengths to rear young animals.
0:12:40 > 0:12:46I'm off to the West Midlands to meet a team who are trying to get two falcon chicks back into the wild
0:12:46 > 0:12:49after their parents were deliberately killed.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58The magnificent peregrine falcon is thriving in many areas of the UK,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01but that's not the case in the West Midlands.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06A number of birds here are falling victim to criminals
0:13:06 > 0:13:09who seem determined to stamp them out.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Hello, hello. So who's who here?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Hello, Tom. I'm Guy from the RSPB. - I'm Keith from Raptor Rescue.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22Nice to see you. My ears betray the fact that your birds are in here.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28Yes, two lovely peregrine chicks in here ready to go back via the RSPB into the wild, hopefully.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32These two are the offspring of a pair of urban peregrines.
0:13:32 > 0:13:38However, someone went to great lengths to ensure these helpless chicks became orphans.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41This is a perfectly legal trap and is used by gamekeepers and farmers etc.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45But it's used to control things like rats and stoats and weasels.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50The idea is you set it underground where non-target animals and cats and birds can't get caught.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54But what somebody had done is set these actually on the nest ledge.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58So someone had deliberately put that there in order to kill the adult birds?
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Yeah, absolutely. You needed rope equipment to get into the site,
0:14:02 > 0:14:06so it was a deliberate, planned effort to try and get these birds.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11Although the first traps were removed, they were quickly replaced and, tragically for the chicks,
0:14:11 > 0:14:14the trappers succeeded second time around.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Once caught, the adult peregrines stood little chance of survival.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21You can imagine a bird landing on that plate there.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23Wow!
0:14:23 > 0:14:25It's a powerful spring.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Probably shatter the bird's leg, certainly hold it
0:14:27 > 0:14:30and the bird would eventually die from shock or hypothermia.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Traps aren't the only threat to peregrines in the West Midlands.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35They've also been shot.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40Guy believes its part of a sustained and determined campaign.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45We've had information that we're looking at eight sites in the Birmingham area
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and that this has been going on for the last two or three years.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53But in this particular case, and following the phone calls, we're pretty certain that it's
0:14:53 > 0:14:56a disgruntled element from the pigeon racing community.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Peregrines and other birds of prey take some of their racing pigeons.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Left alone, this pair would have starved to death.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07But thanks to the RSPB, and the Raptor Centre, they're now to be
0:15:07 > 0:15:13returned to the wild in the nest of two unsuspecting foster families.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19Fortunately for us, Peregrines can't count, so the plan is to take one of these chicks and put them into each
0:15:19 > 0:15:24of the two sites and, hopefully, after we leave, the parents will come back and go, "Oh, OK,"
0:15:24 > 0:15:26and carry on feeding the birds.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Peregrines prefer to nest in high places, so this craggy cliff face
0:15:31 > 0:15:36in a secret location is the perfect spot to raise young.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40It took a nationwide search to find this foster nest, and now I've been
0:15:40 > 0:15:43roped in to help introduce the chick to its new family.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48There's two chicks apparently in that nest and the plan is today, we'll safely get you down this
0:15:48 > 0:15:54cliff-face and you'll then transfer the single chick onto the nest ledge to join its two foster siblings.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57It's not going to be any easy delivery.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Just getting to the nest site will be a challenge for me,
0:16:00 > 0:16:04so fortunately abseiling expert James is caring for the chick.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- Good to go?- You're all good to go.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Bird bag and safety equipment in place, we're ready.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13But before we can abseil down, we've got to climb up.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Here we go. Bit of a scramble.
0:16:17 > 0:16:23The peregrines' best defence against persecution is the inaccessibility of their nesting sites.
0:16:23 > 0:16:31And at closer inspection, this secret spot looks ideal for our first orphaned chick.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35So we've come down this far and I think we can just see into the nest.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40We can, yeah. If you just look over, you can see the ledge where the peregrines have decided to nest.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44You can see all their remains, prey remains and a bit of faeces.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48That's a tell-tale sign that these birds have got young and they're quite large now.
0:16:48 > 0:16:56With the adult birds away, we can drop in on the peregrine chicks and drop off their new baby brother.
0:16:58 > 0:17:05I've brought along a special camera to get the perfect bird's-eye view of this amazing first meeting.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I just hope there's no sibling rivalry.
0:17:08 > 0:17:09A new family member.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14There he is.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22The youngster's a little nervy, but thankfully James is here to point him in the right direction.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24And there we go.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Three quite happy
0:17:28 > 0:17:32and healthy peregrine chicks.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35The one we just introduced is a bit smaller. Does that matter?
0:17:35 > 0:17:39Not really at this age. They're all pretty healthy, pretty capable.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Mum and dad obviously left them to go hunting.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43These can look after themselves and they should be fine.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46I'd say he does look right at home.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49It does, doesn't it? Absolutely fantastic.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51He belongs here.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54They look like the perfect happy family already.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Just squawking to let me know that he's had enough
0:17:58 > 0:18:00of my presence, so I'd better leave them to it.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03But it's a great result.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07With the chicks settling in nicely, it's time to abseil down.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11James and Guy will head off to re-home the second orphaned chick
0:18:11 > 0:18:16later on, but for me that's the end of my perfect peregrine day.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Still to come... Sam the injured puppy undergoes critical surgery.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26The fracture's come together quite nicely.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28It went as well as can be expected.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36And I'm pleased to say the young peregrines
0:18:36 > 0:18:38are now thriving in their new nest.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42The investigation to find who killed their parents is continuing.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Now it's time to check up on the orphaned porpoise
0:18:46 > 0:18:50fighting for its life at Spurn Point in Lincolnshire.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55The mother beached herself on this remote nature reserve and died,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58leaving her calf to fend for itself.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Three hours have passed since British diver Neil Ray
0:19:07 > 0:19:09and his colleagues began trying to save the porpoise.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Now vet, Philippe van der Riet, has arrived.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17He will decide whether the calf can survive without its mother.
0:19:17 > 0:19:23Neil gives him as much information as possible so the vet can make the right decision.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29We got a call about 3.20 to say there was three porpoises, two dead
0:19:29 > 0:19:34and one alive on the Humber, and this was in the water, actually getting rolled in the water.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37OK. Is it struggling a lot or is it quite settled?
0:19:37 > 0:19:38No, it's actually quite settled.
0:19:38 > 0:19:44We brought it up in the back of a four-wheel-drive because of the accessibility
0:19:44 > 0:19:50for you to have a look at, because the tide was coming in and was going to cut off where it was stuck.
0:19:50 > 0:19:56- Was it making any effective swimming movements while it was in the water? - In the water, yes.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Its tail was going and we thought that it was a viable rescue.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Right, let's have a look at it.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06With its breathing stable, Philippe then checks for any signs of injury.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- And have you seen any bleeding, signs of trauma?- No.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13He runs through the options with team member Alan Stewart.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18If it's a question between giving it a chance and euthanizing it,
0:20:18 > 0:20:19I'd prefer to give it a chance,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22but I do think the chances are poor of its surviving.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Philippe decides he needs a second opinion.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28He's only treated dolphins in the past
0:20:28 > 0:20:30and wants even more specialist advice.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Can I speak to him?
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Neil continues to look after the porpoise.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41His dedication to saving marine wildlife never falters.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48Dolphins and porpoises - it's a lovely feeling when you rescue them.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50The only problem is, I get very emotional.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52I tend to get tears in my eyes.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55You've stayed with them for 18 hours, maybe 20 hours,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59trying to get them refloated back into the sea and they just go.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03It's a huge pat on the back because you've given it another chance.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04It's fantastic.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Now he's hoping this rescue will also end with a release.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Urm, the vet seems to think it's worth giving it a chance
0:21:14 > 0:21:18at releasing it, having a go, seeing if it will erm...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20make a run for it.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25But he's actually on the phone to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue vet,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28having a word with him, seeing what he thinks.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30So, hopefully, we'll get it on its way.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40Day is quickly turning into night, but the news is devastating.
0:21:40 > 0:21:46The calf is only a year old and its blubber is too thin for it to survive without its mother's milk.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51It can't be returned to the sea.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55The only alternative is to put it to sleep.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02The vet's been and had a look at it, checked out the condition of the porpoise.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07They've decided that, because of the state of the blubber on the porpoise - it's at an absolute minimal -
0:22:07 > 0:22:12probably the most humane thing to do is to euthanize the porpoise.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15First of all, they're going to give it a sedative
0:22:15 > 0:22:21just to relax the porpoise and then intravenously give it
0:22:21 > 0:22:25a dose of lithocaine, which is what puts the porpoise to sleep.
0:22:27 > 0:22:33- It's just sad. - Neil's upset, but he knows the vet has made the right decision.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37If we released it back into the water, the chances are it would only last maybe a week.
0:22:37 > 0:22:44Without its mum, it would starve, it would dehydrate and its suffering would be immeasurable.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Probably the most humane thing to do is to put it to sleep, put it out of its misery.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54After five long hours, this mission is finally over.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58The team are saddened but more determined to save whatever sea life they can.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09Now we're back in London with Sam, the three-month-old puppy with a broken leg.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10RSPCA inspector Imara
0:23:10 > 0:23:17was called by a vet's after the family missed appointments to get the dog's leg treated.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Now Sam is to be examined.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- The puppy is nervous and in pain. - I know.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35- I know, sweetie. - Vet Kish begins her examinations.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40To take a closer look, she unravels the makeshift bandage.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44It's kind of falling off.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49I think it might have just been on for a couple of days and it looks like it's slipped.
0:23:49 > 0:23:56Sam is clearly suffering and Kish tries to remove the dressing without causing him any more harm.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Puppy, don't panic. Don't panic.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01I'm just basically feeling the toe bones here,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05making sure that they're OK, there's no pain there.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Then just slowly move up the arm. I suspect that's where it's painful.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12That's where they said the fracture was, so we'll leave that for last.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I think when we get here it's gonna hurt a bit.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Good baby, aren't you? You're very clever.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24Imara continues to comfort Sam, but as Kish finds the break, it all becomes too much.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- HE YELPS - It's swollen and painful.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- All right, puppy dog.- It's OK.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Here it looks like there could easily be a fracture.
0:24:32 > 0:24:33There's a bit of swelling,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37very painful, and the bone doesn't feel normal.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44Kish needs to do an X-ray to confirm whether Sam's leg is in fact broken.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47The puppy is sedated to prevent any more discomfort.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56One hour later, the results are back.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Only a clean break can be treated.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03This is the main fracture, so it has actually fractured straight across the bone.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05We can try and fix it.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10Puppies' bones are very delicate, so it will be very delicate surgery.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12It might work.
0:25:12 > 0:25:17The vets decide Sam deserves a chance and agree to operate.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21The frightened puppy is comforted as he's carried to theatre.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29For such a young dog, this is an extremely tricky procedure.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31But after all the efforts,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Imara feels it's worth taking the risk.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41We don't really want it to be under anaesthetic for too long,
0:25:41 > 0:25:43so we really need this one to work.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47We don't have to put it under anaesthetic again to amputate it if it doesn't work.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51But there is a good chance that this will work, so basically just a case
0:25:51 > 0:25:57of biding some time and waiting and hoping that everything will be OK.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00After a long and complicated operation,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Sam is brought out of theatre and left to recover.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Yet again, Imara is there to comfort him.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Hello.
0:26:09 > 0:26:16It's an anxious time as surgeon Sebastien Pryor takes a look at how things have gone.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20So you see from the X-rays that we took after the puppy came in,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23it's got quite a nasty break to the end of his humerus here.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27We were able to repair that with some little metal pins.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30You can see by the smooth line, it's aligned well.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32The fracture's come together quite nicely.
0:26:32 > 0:26:33It went as well as can be expected.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37It's a young, healthy puppy, so it's effectively a healing machine.
0:26:37 > 0:26:42As long as we immobilise the bone and allow it to be still, that should heal very well.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46I would hope that within three, four weeks, he'll be using that leg relatively normally.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48He's got quite a good long-term outlook.
0:26:53 > 0:27:00Three weeks later, Sam has stayed at the RSPCA hospital to give his fracture time to heal.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Now Sebastien is about to check whether his operation has worked.
0:27:04 > 0:27:11Feeling his leg now, you can feel a nice big lump of bone over the fracture site, which is a callous.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13The bone's healing well, he's using the leg well
0:27:13 > 0:27:16and it looks like there'll be a satisfactory outcome.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21With the fracture healing, Sebastien now needs to know if Sam is able to walk.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25OK, so if we just see how he's using that leg, I'll have him walking around.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30You can see that he's tender.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33He's still limping on that leg.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37I'd expect that probably to go on for the next three, four weeks, getting less with time.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39He's using the leg well, he's putting weight on it
0:27:39 > 0:27:42and he's placing it in the right fashion, so that's good news.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Sam has a real spring in his step and soon he'll be off home.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50His owners have learnt their lesson and offered to pay for his treatment.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55After working with them, the RSPCA believe the best place for Sam is back with his family.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59He needs to start doing the things that normal puppies do -
0:27:59 > 0:28:01play and eat and get on with his owners.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04He needs to do that at home rather than in a hospital.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06He's been a perfect patient, really.
0:28:06 > 0:28:12And for the first time in weeks, Sam is full of beans and behaving much more like a puppy should.
0:28:17 > 0:28:23Remember, if you know of a creature that's the victim of cruelty, persecution and neglect,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26there are people out there who'll answer your call around the clock.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30They are who we meet on Animal 24/7.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd